Residents have spotted and been spooked by a pack of wild hogs in their neighborhood and the city of Edgewater has hired a trapper to remove them, officials said.
The feral pigs were seen this week in the Florida Shores neighborhood in the area of 30th Street and Unity Tree Drive, said city spokeswoman Jill Danigel. No injuries or property damage were reported, but a TV news station reported that a mother and her daughter saw the pigs charging toward them.
Danigel said the city was not advised of any instances of wild hogs charging residents, but she did describe the animals as "nuisance wildlife" and confirmed that the city has hired a trapper — one the city has relied on previously.
"Generally, it is the property owner's responsibility to remove nuisance wildlife from their property," Danigel said. "In this instance, since there has been previous incidents in that area, the city hired the same trapper who had success in the past."
Danigel would not disclose where the traps will be located because, in the past, people have vandalized the traps or opened them to release the animal, she said.
Wild boar may reach weights of more than 150 pounds and can be up to 6 feet long, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. They feed by "rooting" with their broad snouts, which often leaves markings in the grass and soil. They are a favorite among local hunters. They are second only to the white-tailed deer as the most popular large animal hunted in Florida.
Danigel reminded residents to secure the lids to their trash cans, which often attracts unwanted wildlife.